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The Better Business Bureau Atlanta & NE Georgia is cautioning consumers to carefully consider engaging with BDRR Farms, which operates through bdrframing.com. BBB Scam Tracker has documented several complaints regarding potential irregularities involving consumer dealings with this company.
BDRR Farms positions itself as a farm equipment dealer, attracting customers with potentially appealing machinery and competitive pricing. In good faith, customers participate in what they assume to be live auctions of farm equipment priced between $10,000 and $100,000 through the company's auction platform. Following the auction's conclusion and successful payment transfer, it's reported that communication from BDRR Farms may unexpectedly halt, potentially leaving customers without the machinery they've invested in.
In April 2023, a consumer reported to BBB that they found BDRR Farms on Facebook to bid on a Bobcat T190 Compact Track Loader. "[I] paid the invoice 3-31-2023 [by] wire transfer, [and] was told in an email it would be delivered today 4-11-2023," said the consumer. "It's not been delivered, nor has the company responded to emails ask[ing] questions, or never returned phone calls Monday if delivery would be on schedule, the number given keeps say[ing] Google subscriber is not taking calls from my number."
The BDR Farming website was created on March 22, 2023, and has been intermittently available. The website uses images of equipment sourced from legitimate websites to add credibility. However, as of August 21, 2023, the website displays the message, "This page is not available," indicating suspicious activity.
BBB warns consumers to exercise caution when engaging with BDRR Farms or similar entities. Always look for these red flags before entering your personal or payment information.
Tips to avoid fake websites:
- Make sure the company is who they say they are by checking spelling and checking the domain name. Scammers often mimic familiar sites, and people will usually trust. Scam websites might purposely misspell familiar website titles to appear legitimate, and scam email addresses often do the same. A scam email address might look like [email protected], while a legitimate email might look like [email protected]
- Ensure the website address begins with https:// and check the address bar for a non-secure message. A trustworthy online seller will have a secure domain, protecting customer information from hackers. Many websites will also have security certification logos visible on their page. Always click them to ensure they open an attached security policy because many scam sites will simply display these logos without an option to click through to a policy.
- Check the age of a website’s domain. Use a website like https://whois.domaintools.com/ to check whether a website was established recently.
- Check for an About page and a Contact Us section. Scammers are creative, but they don’t often take the time to fabricate a full brand history typically available on a company’s About Us page. They may falsify contact information. BBB recommends ensuring the phone numbers and email addresses are legitimate and responsive.
Check out a business’s standing through BBB.org. Verify the legitimacy before any personal information is entered for payment or delivery. If it looks or sounds suspicious, report it to BBB Scam Tracker. Sharing experiences and information will help others avoid a similar situation.
